A Slice of Oakland: Pilar’s pizza picks

New York City, the American King of Pizza, might be a long way from lil’ ol’ Oakland, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give the long loved tradition of “the slice” a shot anyways.

While we’re a far cry from having a bomb-ass pizzeria every couple of blocks, I thought I’d share some of my best places to get a fast, delicious slice while scooting around The Town.

By far the heartiest slice you can get out here, Zachary’s (5801 College Ave.) has long been the golden standard for the East Bay slice. And if you’ve never had Zachary’s pizza, you’re missing out.

Every day until 4 p.m., you can get a slice of pepperoni, sausage, cheese or vegetarian pizza. Their thick slices come with a super thick layer of cheese, gobs of chunky tomato sauce and your topping of choice on a crunchy, thick crust. The slices come out quick and will leave your stomach numbed with a post-cheese-and-meat (or vegetable) euphoria.

Zachary’s is a great place to hunker down at the counter with a thick slice of pizza and if you want to go for the gold, Zachary’s also offers Chicago-style deep dish pizza pies that are, to say the least, legendary.

If you’re looking for a wider variety of options, Lanesplitter’s (4799 Telegraph Ave.) is known for having a variety of wildly topped pizzas, as well as that rare, highly-coveted vegan slice. Their crust, like the tomato sauce, is impressively thin and, much like a runway model hobbling around in designer duds, that thinness can either be incredibly attractive or leave you a bit crestfallen and empty. While the cheese slice can leave something to be desired, their lunch specials make for an excellent noon time deal.